Jean
and Joe Briggs and second generation Lance and Melissa
Eggers began farming apples in the fertile Bonita Springs
Valley of southern Arizona in 1968, and they've farmed
organically since 1990. Their 400 acre apple orchard lies at
the base of Mount Graham, a critical "sky island" habitat
for many species. Since the early efforts of the Briggs and
other committed farmers, organic production has increased in
this lovely valley to over 2,000 acres, good news for birds
and animals that rely upon clean air and water in migration
corridors in Southeastern Arizona.

The
Briggs / Eggers are committed to building a strong organic
program. Like their organic neighbors, the Briggs believe in
building soil and they apply a nutrient rich tea made of
composted poultry manure, as well as organically derived
trace minerals. Coddling moths present a challenge to the
growers in the valley and they have had great success with
pheromone traps and mating disruption techniques. The
granite rich, alluvial soil washed down from the mountains
and the moderate high elevation Arizona Summers allow the
Briggs / Eggers to begin early harvests of Galas, Red
Delicious, Granny Smiths and the increasingly popular Pink
Lady. For more information on the Briggs & Eggers Orchard,
please call us as (520) 281-0231.